Online Friendship Among Czech Youth: Addition to and Compensation for Real -World Relationships
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| Year of publication | 2009 |
| Type | R&D Presentation |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | In this study we were exploring differences in friendship qualities and symptoms of Internet addiction among comparison groups based on reliance on the Internet for locating friends. Data are drawn from interviews with a representative sample of the Czech population, who reported on the number of friends they had and the locus of friend interaction (face-to-face or on-line), frequency of friendship with on-line associates, and the degree to which their Internet usage mirrored DSM-IV criteria for addictive behavior. The face-to-face group reported the lowest number of friends in total, the balanced group had the highest total.. Both groups with Internet friendships had significantly greater symptoms of Internet addiction than the face-to-face group. The symptom level was highest among Internet-oriented respondents, the group seemingly using the Internet to compensate for deficiencies in real-world relationships or social skills. |
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